[All] Fwd: Province of Ontario announces funding for rapid transit

[Robert Milligan]

FYI
R

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Robert Milligan <mill at continuum.org>
> Date: July 6, 2010 5:59:03 PM GMT-04:00
> To: Nancy Button <bnancy at region.waterloo.on.ca>
> Cc: RTInfo <rtinfo at region.waterloo.on.ca>
> Subject: Re: Province of Ontario announces funding for rapid transit
>
> Nancy,
>
> Glad to see that you now have a participatory website. But it is not  
> the higher level "Linux-creation" type website that could help  
> develop more cost-effective IDEAS. I suspect you think you now have  
> sufficient "approved" knowledge for a  successful detailed LRT  
> design -- I suggest otherwise.  In fact I fear that your website  
> will mostly be where opposing sides battle each other and some  
> relatively not-yet-sufficiently-informed people ask questions. I  
> hope that it becomes something very positive that I haven't  
> anticipated.
>
> As for the major thought in your LRT news, I agree with staging but  
> of a more appropriate type. If you want the LRT to be an initial  
> success -- as measured by ridership quantitatively and qualitatively  
> (who are the riders beyond the current majority -- students & the  
> working poor) -- then average speed and length of the line are  
> critical in attracting the middle class out of their cars so as to  
> combat traffic jamming. (Keep in mind that LRT critics will mellow  
> as they realize that their worsening traffic jams will be combated  
> by a ridership-successful LRT.)
>
> Obviously a higher average speed LRT combined with just-in-time bus  
> connections and optimally designed bus routes are all very necessary  
> to have a transit time comparable to one's car.
>
> And having a longer LRT line (a Northfield terminal to Ainslie  
> Terminal) will be especially attractive  to middle class riders who  
> have to travel significant distances such as south Cambridge to RIM  
> or Waterloo to ComDev.  In a relaxed manner, they would be able to  
> chat with new friends, read a report or newspaper, just enjoy-the- 
> ride, etc.
>
> Serving the malls -- mostly their off-rush-hour underpaid employees  
> -- will do little to alleviate rush "hour" traffic jams.
>
> So -- using proven rail technology IDEAS, collaboration with GEXR &  
> CP Rail, etc. -- affordably extend the LRT along the rail right-of- 
> way from Nt to AT in the first stage (a "Ridership Corridor") along  
> with an exemplary interconnected "Intensification  Corridor" along K- 
> W's King St. Then we will have both Ridership success and a great  
> example of Intensification success for other developers to drool  
> over and pressure for more LRT money!
>
> Yes do staging but like I have already suggested -- or better.  
> Please -- for the sake of the reputation of the Region, all  
> supporting politicians, all involved professionals & academics --  
> reject (but enhance) your proposed failure-likely staging, i.e.:  
> Stage I -- the very expensive (it costs sooo much more to install  
> tracks along a street), slower, accident prone, low capacity, road  
> space hogging,  ...  mostly along "Intensification Corridors" and  
> just to Fairview Mall; Stage 2 -- an angry "separatist-feeling"  
> Cambridge in 2036 (or never).
>
> Wake up and smell the roses of courageous potential "outside-the- 
> box" LRT thinking.  And to transform potential into reality,  
> wouldn't it be wonderful for Chair Ken Seiling to be the Champion of  
> "Outside-the-Box" Innovative Thinking?!
>
> Robert Milligan
>
> PS: For those who might think that I am being unrealistic esp. re:  
> costs, then send me an email requesting a copy of my more detailed  
> report.
>
>
> On 6-Jul-10, at 11:07 AM, RTInfo wrote:
>
>> It is my pleasure to share with you some important news about the  
>> Region of Waterloo’s rapid transit project.
>>
>> The Province of Ontario has committed $300 million towards the  
>> capital cost of constructing a rapid transit system in Waterloo  
>> Region! You can read more about the June 28 announcement on the  
>> rapid transit website (http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca).
>>
>> This is a significant investment by the Province in the future of  
>> Waterloo Region. The Region is now seeking a matching funding  
>> commitment from the Federal government.
>>
>> Light rail transit, implemented in stages, is the best  
>> environmentally and financially sustainable solution to help manage  
>> our community’s future growth and the region’s transportation  
>> needs. With the new Regional Official Plan finalized and the  
>> Regional Transportation Master Plan approved by Council last week,  
>> the Region is ready to implement this important initiative.
>>
>> We are confident that, with a matching funding commitment from the  
>> Federal government, we can make rapid transit a reality in Waterloo  
>> Region. Once we know what federal funding is available, we will be  
>> able to move forward with the planning and design of the project.
>>
>> We’ll update you as soon as we know more. Meanwhile, please join  
>> the conversation about the rapid transit project in our iEngage  
>> discussion forum (http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/community/ 
>> ).
>>
>>
>> Nancy Button
>> Director, Rapid Transit
>>
>>
>>
>

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